How travel insurance can be valuable

If you’re spending a lot of money on a trip, consider buying travel insurance to protect yourself against the unexpected. Key things to know:

• Typically, travel insurance reimburses you for such things as nonrefundable cruise deposits or airfares — and for the cost of rescheduling flights — when weather, illness, natural disaster or terrorism cause your trip to be canceled or delayed. Plans differ slightly from one another, so be sure to read the fine print.

• Some policies cover medical expenses incurred outside the United States, and may pay for emergency evacuation in case of a serious injury or health problem. Some providers will not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

• You can buy travel insurance through a travel agent, your tour company or sites such as InsureMyTrip.com, Squaremouth.com and QuoteWright.com. The cost typically is 4% to 8% of the trip’s price. You may get a better rate if you buy a policy within 14 days of making the first deposit for your trip.

• If you want the option to back out of your trip and get your money back at any time, some carriers offer “cancel for any reason� coverage at an extra cost. The price is around 10% of the trip’s cost.

• If you have a dispute with a travel insurance provider, contact the California Department of Insurance at (800) 927-4357 or at https://www.insurance.ca.gov. Consider also contacting your credit card company, or the hotel or tour operator, and asking for a refund.